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3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

- W. M. THOMAS.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

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W. M. THOMAS.

ELECTRIC ARO LAMP.

No. 283,042. Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3.

W. M. THOMAS.

ELECTRIC ARU LAMP.

No. 283,042. Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIc WILLIAM M. THOMAS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL W. SKINNER, OF SAME PLACE.

YELECTRIC-ARCLAMPH SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,042, dated August 14, 1883. I

Application filed December 1,1882. (No model.)

To aZZ whom itmay concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. THOMAS, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Regulators for Electric-Are Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in those electricarc lamps'whose electrodes are maintained at proper polar separation by direct attachment of one of 'them to a soft-iron armature or suction-core (or its equivalent solenoid) suspended within a helix in the arccircuit; and my invention is more especially designed for securing illuminating equilbrium among two or more such lamps employed in series.

The prime heZ'icc.-II1 my present invention I employ a single-layer helix having one or more bared tracks for the traverse of as many shifting contact-wheels, which have integral attachment to both armature and electrode, and which constitute part of the electric conduit to the latter, similar to the like parts described in my patents numbered, respectively,

253,322, 263,246,21nd 263, 247, to which refer-.

ence may be made for more minute description of whatever my said'devices possess in common; but whereas in said previous patents the current entered the prime helix at one end only and then traveled in a single stream to the contact-wheels, leaving the en. tire lower-part of the helix out of field, in my present invention the initial current, being divided and entering simultaneously both upper and lower extremities of the prime helix in multiple connection, one branch current flowing down that portion of the prime helix which is above thefor the-timebeing-qalace of wheel-contact, and the other branch current flowing up the remaining portion, and the two currents reuniting at said place of contact, it follows that the helix is constantly utilized throughout its whole extent, and that in a twofold capacity, as will shortly appear.

The armature.Mechani cally attached to the carbon carrier coincident with the prime helixs geometrical axis is a soft-iron suctioncore, preferably tubular, and which, in association with the described coactingparts, constitutes the normal regulator of arc-distance.

' wheels.

For lamps to be used in series there is associated with the soft-iron core a special regulating-member consisting of a high-resistance helix that shunts the are, and which is brought v into activity on any excess above normal of electrode separation and in proportion to such excess and in mechanical opposition to the core-suction. The thus associated core and shunt are known in this specification as the duplex armature. The impact-level of the contact-wheels and the line of separation of the two armature-members coincide with a ceives the electric current at both ends in two separate and oppositely-flowing streamlets, which, reuniting, escape at the same shiftinglevel through bared tracks on the helixs periphery into an oscillating member, of which the positive carbon forms an integral part, the vicissitudes of are distance being automatically corrected by the perturbations of "this oscillating member through purely electro-magnetic agencies in both the upward and the downward directions, the downward perturbations gradually prevailing-as the carbons wear away. Like the forms described in my abovecited patents, the present form permits the use of carbons of any desired length, limited only by that of the prime helix, which may be of any convenient dimensions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front and a side elevation, of a lamp embodying my improvements. Fig. 3 shows the position of the oscillating member within the helix at insertion of a carbon. Fig. 4 shows the oscillating member detached. Fig. 5 is an axial section of my duplex armature, together with a portion of the supporting-stem. Fig. 6 is a transverse section at the plane of impact of the contact- Figs. 7, 8,-and 9 are ideal illustrations of the relative actions of the prime helix and contact-wheels. Fig. 10 shows the form of my oscillating member employed for isolated lamps. Fig. 11 represents, by axial sec tion, a modification of my compound or duplex armature.

A represents a plate or collar of vulcanite or other suitable non-conducting material.

F and N are bi11dingpOSts for the wires 1) and n, which respectively convey the entering and departing currents. Both bindingposts are projections of a brass base, A, which is fastened to collar A. Post N has direct electrical communication with base A and with its hereinaiter-described attachments. Post I is insulated from plate A by vulcanite bushing a.

Firmly secured to collar A, and depending therefrom, is a tube, B, of brass or other nonmagnetic substance, which tube constitutes the bobbin of my prime helix B,'hereinalter described.

To the lower end of tube B is secured a vulcanitc collar, 0, from which rigidly depends a brass pendant, D, that supports and has electrical connection with the holder E of the negative electrode F, which may be of carbon, as shown, or of refractory metal. The negative electrode F has electrical connection Df A N with the exit-wire n. The bobbin B is wound from end to end with wrapped wire G, of half the transverse section of wire p,whi ch, communicating by both ends, as at G and G, with the positive post P, constitutes the prime helix B. The periphery of the thus formed prime helix B has one or more bared tracks g, for the traverse of the switch or contactwheels of my oscillating member H, now to be described.

From mid-length of a horizontal brass bar H, which carriesa holder, J, for the positive electrode or carbon K, there extends vertically a (preferably tubular) brass rod or stem, I, forming part of my armature-support. This stem I carries upona collar, i, a tubular cylinder or sleeve, Y, of soft iro The sleeve Y, known in this specification as the suction-core, has a vuleanite eap,,l\l, to whose bail Q are attached metallic suspenders or chains 0, which, passing over sheaves It, journaled in bearings S upon base A, terminate in weights T, that are guided to a vertical path by rods f, one or both of which may do duty as part of the current-exit, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2.

Extending upward from the ends of bar H are springs 'U, in whose summits are journaled my switch or contact-wheels V, which occupy and traverse the bared tracks upon the prime helixs periphery. Said wheels V may have circumierential grooves o for guiderods NV.

The members H, I, J, O, Q, 1%, S, U, V, f, N, and n, are all of brass or other non-magnetic metal, to enable their use as simple eurrent-carriers.

Fig. 10 represents that form of my oscillating member whose armature consists of asimple suction-core, a form which suf'fiees for the regulation of a single isolated lamp or for an y number of lamps that have independent con nection with the line-wire or with the generator.

For two or more lamps in series it is well known that there is required in addition to the ordinary suction-core a supplementary instrumentality which will operate to counter act such excessive action of the arc-widening functions of the core proper as would seriously weaken the series-current even to the possible extinction of the less mobile or weaker lamps thereof. Such instrun'lentality has generally included some form of high-resistance helical shunt, but one whose duty it has merely been, at abrupt and somewhat arbitrary intervals, to abandon the electrode to the action of its own gravity, or to spring force, for all of the feeding or protractile movements of the carbons, the electro-motive functions in that particular lamp being, for the time being, non-existent, and, so to speak, dead. Beside the large amount of current-force wasted in overcoming the considerable mechanical ponderosity of the electrodes and their adjuncts under this system of operation such expedients are amenable to the more serious objection of violent fluctuations inseparable from the use of such fast and loose machinery, however simple. These defects practical tests prove my electromagnetic feed to have remedied.

The form of special or supplementary feedregulator which, for series use, I prefer to as sociate with the already-described retractile regulator Y, is shown in Fi 8 and l, in which, beneath the soft-iron core Y, and in alignment with it, there rests upon collar '13 of said stem I a helix, Z, of wrapped wire, of higher resistthan that of the normal are, and which on any excessive widening of the latter becomes energized and operates to shunt the same. The said helix Z, known in this specification as the diilerential, is so wound as to be at tracted by the lower and repelled by the upper eurrent of the prime helix, and consequently operates when energized in direct opposition to the suction-core Y. The said dil ferential has direct electrical connection below with electrodecarrier H of the oscillating member H, so as to tap the main current before reaching the arc and thus shunt or short-circuit the latter, and above through the hollow core Y with bail Q, and thence through the parts 0, B, S, T, and N, with exitwire a. The dotted lines Y Z in Figs. 1 and 2, and the strong lines Y Z in Fig. 3, indicate the uppermost position of the armature relatively to the prime helix. The part Y Z thus constructed I call the compound or dilferenti al armature.

In the figures the paths of the direct and of the shunted currents are respectively indicatcd bystrong and by broken arrows. By

proper adjustment of the counterpoise my oscillating member, whether for isolated or se ries use, is so graduated as to weight that, on

IIO

insertion therein of a fresh carbon, the said; oscillating member, (being then in its highest 2 position relatively to the prime helix,) the I weights T, together with the external portions j of the chains 0, allow said member, and the then interior portions of chain, preponderance just sufficient to close the electrodes when the lamp is cut out of circuit, and so that asf the oscillating member descends, and at the same time suffers loss of weight by the wearing away of its carbon, the transfer of chainweight from outside to inside exactly suffices to maintain the said approximate equilibrium. Except to secure electrode contact of a cut-out lamp, my oscillating member might be so counterpoised as to be absolutely devoid of virtual weight, because'the exigencies of actual operation of my lamp demand neither weight nor spring nor other extrinsic force, both feed and retractile movements of the electrode being accomplished by the direct agency of the electromagnetic forces alone.

' It will be seen that each of the portions of prime helix respectively above andbelow the for the time beinglevel of current-escape is the theater of two concurrently-shifting electro-magnetic forces relatively to the duplex armaturethat is to say, there is in each -por-' tion of the prime helix an attractive forcegon one section of the armature and a repellent force on the other section, the two forces act ing on one armature-section co-operating to retract and those on the other armature-section to protract (feed the carbon, the centers of energy of these forces all moving in company, now upward and now downward,with the relatively-varying forces of the direct and shunted currents, the downward shifts in the long run prevailing as the carbons wear away. It is then apparent that in the present device the entire prime helix is utilized in a twofold capacity, the repellent forces of one part coacting with the attractive forces of the other part on the same armaturesection; or, in the single armature simply, in the isolated lamp form, Fig. 10. Only such excess of weight of the oscillating member over the counterpoise being allowed as insures electrode-contact on withdrawal of current, and the positive electrode having unbroken connection with such member, and in fact constituting anintegral part of it, the entire actions both of feed and retraction are purely electro-magnetic, and quite independent of weights, springs, clutches, or like mechanical adjuncts, with a consequent marked gain'in promptness, delicacy, and econ omy of current-force. This important regulation for series, which depends wholly on antomatic control of the carbon-feed, and upon which the practicability of subdivision depends, is believed to be more perfectly attained by the electromagnetic forces themselves, as in present invention, than by mechanical connections and disconnections for bringing into momentary action the force of gravity or of a spring.

The above-described preferred form of my invention may be modified in non-essential particulars. For example, my duplex armature may be formed as in Fig. 1.1, in which a solenoid,'L, (which is in this form the lower element of the armature and which constitutes a part of the current-channel from the prime helix to the electrode,) is substituted for and discharges the functions of the suction-core, the helical shunt Z in this form being the upper element of the armature. In this modification the directions of convolutions of each respective element are such as to cause it to be repelled by that part of the prime helix which is nearest toand attracted by that most distant from it. By this means, although their position on the armature is reversed, the respective functions of my two armaturecurrents are identical with the corresponding members of my typical form, Figs. 3 and 4-that is to say, my solenoid performs the retractile and my differential, as before, the entire feeding duties of the regulator.

Another possible modification of my invention may combine with such a duplex-current prime helix an electrode with integrally-attached solenoid, the center of whose field of energy is normally coincident with the plane of confluence of the two helix-currents, said solenoid being either single for an isolated lamp or compound (in which a solenoid in the arc-circuit is concentric to an integrallyattached and mutually-shifting shunt-helix) for a series lamp.

One or more of the above modifications may be embodied in separate applications for patent, for which more specific descriptions are reserved.

I am aware that electric-arc-lamp regulators have been devised for single lamps in which a suction-core located in a main helix that has formed part of the arc-circuit has been so fastened to one of the carbons as to graduateor control a spring or gravity feed, and that such lamps have been adapted for series use by such a core or by an external armature, which has had clutch or like fast and loose attachment to the carbon, and been associated with a high-resistance shunt-helix, whose duty it has been, when the arc-distance has become excessive, to surrender the carbon to a spring or gravity feed, 'the electromagnetic forces being for the instant, so to speak, dead. I therefore disclaim novelty in such cores, shunts, and prime helices, broadly considered. pre-existence of a regulator in which the illuminative equilibrium of electric-arc lamps 'in series has been maintained by exclusively direct action of the electromagnetic forces upon IOO I have, however, no knowledge of both the feed and retractile movements of the I two oppositely-attracting helices, of which one has been in the arc-eircuit and the other in a shunt thereof; but such devices have been constituted differently to mine, notably in the fact that their centers of field energy have been fixed instead of being shiftable with the core or cores, which latter have been capable of a comparatively limited range of oscillation, necessitating either the use of short carbons or some kind of fast-anddoose connection with the same.

Whatever novel subjectmatter I have set forth and not claimed or attempted to claim herein I have claimed or attempted to claim in other applications, or have reserved to be claimed in future original applications.

I claim as new and of my invention- 1. In. an electric-arc lamp, the combination, with a suction-core or armature mechanically connected to the electrode, of a helix that receives two oppositely-directed branches of the arc-current supply, which, entering the helix at its respective ends, reunite at a shifting communication with the electrode, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric-arc lamp, a prime helix,

the extremities of which are connected with the same rheophore, and which has one or more bared tracks that are traversed by as many conductors mechanically connected to the suction-core and to one of the electrodes.

3. In an electric-arclamp, ahelix whose upper portion conveys a descending and whose lower portion conveys an ascending branch of the arc-current supply, in combination with an electrode having an integrally-attached softiron suction-core, which occupies and is subject to the inductive and attractive energies of said upper portion and to the concurrentlydirected repellent energy of the lower portion of said helix, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electric-arc lamp,in series, the combination, with a duplex armature integrally attached to the electrode, of a prime helix in the are-circuit, which is traversed by two oppositely-directed branches of the entering current, which. exercise upwardly-directed attractive and repellent energies on one armature element and downwardly directed attractive and repellent energies on the other armature element, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. p

5. In anelectric-arc-lamp regulator, in combination with an oscillating member, H, of which a suction core or armature, an electrodeholder, and one or more contact-wheels are in tegral parts, the prime helix B, having one or morebared tracks, which helix communicates at both endswith the current-supply, and at a shifting intermediate level through said track and wheels with the positive electrode, substantially as set forth.

6. An electric-arc-lamp regulator having a prime helixin the arc-circuit, which receives current atboth ends in two separate and oppositely-flowing streams, and which discharges both streams at a variable level through one or more contact-wheels in said circuit that occupy bared tracks on the helixs periphery and have mechanical connection with a suction-eore or armature of said helix and with the positive electrode, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with a prime helix in the arc-circuit whose upper and lower portions are traversed by oppositely-directed branches of the current-supply, the duplex armature Y Z, integrally attached to the positive electrode and of which one member Y is subject to the combined upwardlydirected attractive and repellent forces of said helix portions, and of which the other member (which is a high-re sistance helix that shunts the arc) is subject to the downwardly-directed attractive and repellent forces of said helix portions, substantially as set forth.

8. An electrie-arc-lamp regulator in which a prime helix in the arccircuit has electrical communication at both ends with the positive rheophore, and has one or more bared peripheral tracks, in combination with an oscillating member which consists of the following intogrally-attached parts, to wit: positive elec trode-holder H, duplex armature Y Z, springs U, and the switch or contact wheels V, substantially as set forth.

9. In an electric-arc-lamp regulator the following elements, to wit: a prime helix in the arc-circuit which receives the current at both ends, whiclrcurrent traverses the respective portions of the helix in two oppositely directed streams that escape at a variable level through one or more bared tracks, in the de scribed combination with an oscillating member which comprises the following integrally attached parts, namely a carboncarrier, which has mechanically attached to it one or more contact-wheels in arc-circuit, and which has, coincident with the prime helixs axis, a duplex armature whose members are attached endwise and consist, rcspcctively,ofa soft-iron tube or core and a helix of high resistance which shunts the are.

10. In an electric arc regulator, a prime helix in the arc-circuit wound and connected, as described, so as to receive the electric currentat both ends in two separate and oppositely -fiowing streams, which, reuniting, escape at the same shifting level through bared tracks on the helixs periphery into the osei1- lating member H, of which the positive carbon forms an integral part, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination of prime helix B, connected at both ends with the positive rheophore, and having shifting communication by its bared track b with the are through oscillating member H, consisting of the following integrally attached parts, to wit: the carbonholder, contact -wheels, retractile core, and the differential shunt, which, tapping the carbon-holder above the arc, discharges through the counterpoise mechanism, substantially as set forth.

Ils

. 283,042 c g e 5 12. In a regulator for an electric-arc lamp, in series, the combination, with the prime helix B, of the electrode-carrier H J, having the integrally attached springs U,- surmounted 5 by contact-wheels V, and the stem I, which carries the two elements'Y Z, of which element Y is a soft-iron upwardly attracted and repelled tubular core, located above the con tact-wheel level, and of which element Z is a IO downwardly attracted and repelled-high resistance-shunt helix, located below the wheel level, and whose lower end taps the current 

